Ridgmont Station Walks

1 Leave the Go through the gates using the pedestrian entrance and almost immediately bear left at the Station. Turn Footpath sign. At the next marker post turn right and head towards an estate road. Left over the level At the road do not take the obvious track on the other side but bear right to follow a faint track Crossing and left and continue on this faint track through the trees until an estate road is reached then continue Again on a path which along the road with the wire fence on the right. ( This road can be busy at the times with vehicles runs between coming from behind). Just before the road turns a sharp right turn left along a wide un surfaced The crossing and Path. 4 Watch out for people using the overhead wires as this is Go Ape area and look for Car park. Follow animals to the right. Almost at the end of this wide avenue bear left up a steep slope and through Path under A507 the trees to reach a gate. 5 Go through the gate and continue ahead on a wide enclosed bear right then left grassy path with the Elephant house on the left and the Safari park on the right to eventually to reach a gate. Go reach a gate and an estate road near the entrance to the Safari Park. Go through the gate through the gate turn right passing buildings on the left and the entrance to the Safari Park on the right and up and over to cross the road near the stone Lions. ( There are tables, toilets and refreshments available metal steps then 6 under M1 motor- via vending machines, an ideal place for a break). way. At the far With the stone Lions behind and a paddock and shed on the right head for a gap in the fence and side cross the rail- Continue on this path as it climbs through the wood to reach an estate road. Turn left along way , go through the gate into the field then to a bridge crossing a stream. Cross the bridge and this road For just under a mile( watching out for traffic) to reach a gate house and turn right continue ahead across a field to a field edge path with the hedge on the right. At the end of the on reaching the main road (High Street . Continue along the High Street crossing Eversholt Road hedge continue in the same direction passing close to trees to reach a marker post. At the marker and passing Station road, All Saints Church (All Saints church with its tall spire was designed by post bear left across the field towards a tree lined hedge with a grassy track alongside and contin- Sir George Gilbert Scott and built in 1854 replacing the old Segenhoe church. Almost opposite, ue along this path with the hedge on the right to the road. (School Lane). 2 the Rectory was the birthplace of the Countess of Strathmore, Grandmother of Queen Elizabeth 11). Cross the road into Crow Lane and continue past all the cottages (which were built as Labourers Cross Church Street and look for the Greensand Ridge Path sign on the other side of the road cottages by the Duke of Bedford between 1850-1860). At the end go through the gate into the 7 wood and at the first marker post turn left and continue over a bridge to a gate and once through approximately 50 yards before the shop. Cross the road and take the steps leading to the gate turn right and continue across the field, through a gate,cross another field to reach a lydds Hill and continue down the hill. Where the wood ends and at the Greensand Ridge Path sign road. (Horsepool Lane) Cross and go through the hedge and bear slightly left then right to reach a turn right and contour the edge of the wood. ( The Greensand Ridge Path is a 40 mile East/West cross field path in the field (Around this junction on 9th September 1941 a Handley Page Hampden Trail across Bedfordshire starting by the Grand Union Canal in Leighton Buzzard and Finishing at Bomber aircraft of 50 bomber squadron crashed killing Sgt Fred Romney aged 28 and Flight Sgt Gamlingay Cinques just over the border in Cambridgeshire). The path takes a sharp left down Tony Barker aged 20. 2 other members of the crew survived by bailing out. In recognition there is into a field then turns right along a field edge path. At an obvious cross field path turn left and a finger post at the corner of the field). Turn left at the field cross pathss and head towards the head towards the trees. Go through the gap, up the slope, through the gate and turn right to cross corner of the field. Go through the gate into Horsepool Lane (by the finger post) turn right and a over the M1 motorway then over the A507 on a wooden bridge. Continue down the slope. few yards later right again into Turnpike Road. Continue towards the entrance to Woburn Park and Just before the hedge 8 turn left along a permissive path and continue towards the road with cross this busy road to the left at a convenient time near the entrance. 3 (Woburn Park is the hedge on the right. Turn right at the gate and continue along the track which runs between owned by the Duke of Bedford and the Safari Park, opened in 1970 is recognised as a centre of excellence for the conservation of endangered wildlife and houses probably the largest concentra- the road on the left And a crop field on the right. Continue past the lay bye to the bridge and up tion of Critically endangered African Hoofed Mammal on earth. There are over 80 species of wild the ramp. At the top of the ramp turn right down the slope and along the footpath back to animals in its 300 acres and at the end of September 2014 an Elephant was born in the park. Its Ridgmont Station 1 parents, both residents, were 20 year old Asian Elephants). Bedfordshire Railway Walks Marston Vale Line Ridgmont Station, Heritage Centre & Cafe Walk Refreshments and toilets at Ridgmont Station and Heritage Centre, Woburn Safari Park Entrance, Ridgmont village. Ridgmont village has a shop, cafe,accommodation and Pub On the and is just over 1 mile from the station. Ridgmont Station is on the Bedford/Bletchley line with services every hour Monday to Saturday. There is no Sunday service. Wild Side The walk uses good well marked paths but some parts can be very muddy when wet. Easy walking with just over 84 metres of ascent and descent. It is stile free. There is one railway crossing, one set of steep steps, a short steep climb and several road crossings. The first and last sections of the walk are unsuitable for pushchairs or buggies A 9.5km (6 mile) circular walk However the walk is suitable for children. between 2.5 hours -3.5 hours duration ” Written and produced by Barry Ingram “You’ll be surprised at what you might see Before and or after the walk why not visit the Heritage centre and Cafe at Ridgmont Station.

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